Tent pole/truss locking mechanism

ABSTRACT

A collapsible tent has a plurality of legs and trusses for supporting a canopy. A slider is slidably associated with one of the legs and pivotally connects with an associated truss. The slider slides along the leg during erection and collapse of the tent. A locking mechanism is provided between the slider and upper end of the one of the legs. The locking mechanism has a lip on either the slider or upper leg and a spring-loaded latch lever. The cooperation of the lip and latch lever provides positive engagement releasable by activation of the lever against a spring base.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/762,992, filed Jan. 27, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a locking mechanism for locking a tent truss member with a leg or pole member of the tent.

Many types of collapsible tents exist. Most have foldable support legs and trusses with latches or locking mechanisms to hold these members in an erect position.

Often such latching or locking mechanism comprises a spring loaded pin and hole mechanism.

The present invention pertains to an improved and more positive locking mechanism between the leg or pole of the tent and the slider to which a truss member is pivotally connected.

More particularly the latching or locking mechanism takes the form of a slider having a lip or shoulder preferably at its upper end on one side and a spring biased latch lever secured to the upper end of the leg or pole, the latch lever being adapted to lockingly engage the lip or shoulder of the slider.

DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a collapsible tent to which the present invention pertains in various positions.

FIG. 1 illustrates the tent fully collapsed.

FIG. 2 shows the tent partially erected.

FIG. 3 illustrates the tent fully erected.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper end of a tent leg with a slider according to the invention, the slider and leg being in an unlocked relationship.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the slider and tent leg latching assembly in locked relationship.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the locked relationship shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The tent of the present invention is of the collapsible variety which has at least four legs and appropriate truss members to support the cover or canopy when erected. The type of tent to which the invention relates is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 in various positions; collapsed (FIG. 1); partially erected (FIG. 2); and fully erected (FIG. 3).

A slider mechanism 10 is telescopingly associated with each leg or pole 12. The slider mechanism 10 is also being attached to a truss member 14 which supports the cover 16 or canopy when the tent is fully erected. When erected, there is a latching or locking mechanism between the leg or pole 12 and the slider to which the truss is connected.

In FIGS. 4-7, there is shown for clarity purposes only the upper portion of a leg 20.

A slider 24 encompasses the leg and is adapted to slide up and down the leg 20. A truss member is not shown in FIGS. 4-7; but, as would be understood from FIGS. 1-3, would be pivotally connected to the slider 24 on a side away from the upper cam faced lip or shoulder 28 formed on one sided the slider 20. At the top of the leg is a latch lever 30 which is spring based and pivotally connected at 32 to bracket 34. Bracket 34 is shown encircling and attached to the leg by rivets 38, but any other means of securing bracket 34 to leg 20 is contemplated including welding a metal bracket to a metal leg. I

In operation, as the slider is advanced up the leg in erecting the tent, the cam face 40 of the lip or shoulder 28 forces the spring based lever outwardly whereby the jaw 42 of the lever catches the lip or shoulder 28 to secure the slider 24 in a locked position relative to the leg 20.

Depressing or pushing on the lever release 44 will release the jaw 42 from the lip or shoulder 28 and allow the slider to move down the leg in order to collapse the tent. Each leg has a like slider and latching assembly.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the spring based latch lever and lip or shoulder 28 may be reversed as to the elements to which they are attached. The leg would have a bracket with a lip or shoulder while the slider would have the latch lever assembly. One preferred embodiment is that as described herein and illustrated in the drawings.

While the systems and methods of this invention have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, methods, and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain materials that are both functionally and mechanically related might be substituted for the materials described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A collapsible tent having a plurality of legs and trusses for supporting a canopy comprising: a slider slidably associated with a leg and pivotally connected with an associated truss, said slider adapted to slide along the leg during erection and collapse of the tent. a locking mechanism between said slider and an upper end of the associated leg, said locking mechanism comprising a lip on one of the slider and upper leg end, and a spring loaded latch lever with a latch configured complementary to said lip positioned on the other of the slider and upper leg end, wherein the lip and latch lever provide a positive locking mechanism which can be released by activating the lever against the spring base. 